Suspension for track-laying vehicles



Feb. 20, 1934. KNOX 1,947,475

SUSPENSION FOR TRACK LAYING VEHICLES Filed May 9, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet lInventors Harry A Kn|:1x Thomas I-LNixcm Feb. 20, 1934. H. A. KNOX El ALSUSPENSION FOR TRACK LAYING VEHICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventors Harr'A-Knnx Thomas H Nix an BY Filed May 9. 1933 46 ing its axis 6 mounted inthe 6'0 arms are associated through Patented eb 20, 1934 1,947 ,47SUSPENSION FOR TRACK-LAYING VEHICLES Harry A. Knox, Davenport, Iowa, andThomas H.

Nixon, United States Army, Gettysburg, 2a..

Application May 9, 1933. Serial No. 670.124

5 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to us ofany royalty thereon.

5 This invention relates to a suspension for track-laying vehicles.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a suspension unitfor vehicles having a high ratio between the strokes of a verticallymovable wheel and a yielding element connect ing the wheel to thevehicle body.

A further objectis to provide a suspension unit in which a pair ofindependently mounted arms are associated through a linkage whereby asingle spr'ing may'be employed to yieldingly connect the arms to thevehicle body.

With the foregoing and other objects inview. the invention resides inthe novel arrangement and combination of parts and in the details of goconstruction hereinafter described and claimed,

it being understood embodiment of the may be made within the scope ofwhat is claimed without departing from the spirit of the inventhatchanges in the precise tion.

A practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a track laying vehicle equippedwith the improved sus- Pension units. I

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in side elevation and partly in section ofthe central unit of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of as ig. 2.

. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and Fig. 5 is aplan view of the linkage taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

There is shown a vehicle body A supported on each side by wheel units B,C and D about which A is trained an endless ground-engaging track E. Thecentral unit B consists of a pair of successively arranged wheels 5-5,each wheel havextremities of a set of spaced arms 7-7. The sets of armsfor the wheels are journaled independently of each other on a supportshaft 8 carried by and projecting laterally from the body. The sets of alinkage consisting of spaced bars 9-9 overlying the shaft'B and havingtheir ends coupled to intermediate portions of the arms 7 by parallellinks1010.

A pin 11 passing through the central portion of the bars 9 is fittedwith a bushing 12 (Fig. 4)

invention herein disclosed.

(Granted under the act of March amended April 30, 1928; 370 0.

a, 1883, as G. 757) pacing the bars and mountinga rotatable sleeve 13.The sleeve 13 carries an elongated pilot column 14 at right angles toits axis and adapted to extend vertically through a bearing 15 in abracket 16. The bracket 16 is secured to the body A by means of uprightbraces 1'7 and 18 mounted on the support shaft 8.

As shown in the wheel unit B the pilot column 14 has a threaded portion19 for adjustably mounting a nut 20. A volute spring 21 having its innercoil seated on the nut 20 and its outer coil seated on the bracket 16provides a yielding suspension between the body and the wheel unit. Thevolute spring possesses-especial advantage in a suspension of thischaracter because of its low height and short deflection and itsexcellent damping effect. By manipulation of the nut 20 the load of thevehicle may be removed from the unit B.

The front suspension unit C consists of a single wheel 22 carried on thefront extremity of a single arm 23. The rear end of Journaled on theshaft 24 and has a laterally pin 28 is positioned on the arm at adistance from the shaft 24 equal to approximately one- 35 fourth thelength of the arm.

The outer end of the bracket 26 is additionally supported by a brace 29mounted on the shaft 24 and pin 26a.

The rear suspension unit D consists of a single wheel 30 carried on thefront extremities of a pair of spaced arms 31 joumaled on the axle ofthe track sprocket wheel 32. A volute spring 33 is confined between abracket 34 mounted by means of a vpin 3411 on the body and a spring 96seat 35 carried by the arms 31. The bracket 34 is additionally supportedby a brace 36 mounted on the axle of the sprocket wheel 32, and on thepin 34a.

By mounting the wheels of the unit B on independent arms the ratio theemployment of a volute spring having a short stroke in action withoutinterfering withthe equal distributioniof the load to both wheels of theunit.

The front wheel unit C has the same four to one ratio of movementbetween wheel and spring as the center unit. This ratio is lowered inthe rear unit D where it is approximately two and one-half to one. i

As is well understood in the art the suspension may consist solely of anumber of the units 13, C or D. In all of these types the spring ispositioned in the plane of the wheels and by virtue of its low height itwill not interfere with the upper reach of the track.

We claim:

1. In a suspension for vehicles, a member to besupported, a shaftcarried by said member and projecting laterally therefrom, a pair ofarms journaled on the shaft independently of'one ana bar overlying theshaft, parallel links connecting the ends of said bar to intermediateportions of the pair of arms, a spring seat carried by the bar, abracket on the supported member, a volute spring confined between thebracket and spring seat, and a brace between the shaft and the bracket.

2. In a suspension for vehicles, a member to be supported, a shaftcarried by said member and projectinglaterally therefrom, a pair of armsjournaled on the shaft independentlyof one another and extending inopposite directions, a wheel on the free end of each arm, a bar over-.lying the shaft, parallel links connecting the ends of said bar tointermediate portions of the pair of arms, a spring seat carried bythebar, a bracket ,journaled on the on the supported member, and a volutespring confined between the bracket and spring seat.

3. In a suspension for vehicles, a member to be supported, ashaftcarried by said member and projecting laterally therefrom, a pairof arms shaft independently of one another and extending in oppositedirections, a wheel on the free end of eacharm, a bar overlying theshaft, parallel links connecting the ends of said bar to intermediateportions of the pair of arms, a spring seat carried by the bar, abracket on the supported member, a spring confined between the bracketand spring seat.

4. In a suspension for vehicles, a member to .be supported, a'shaftcarried by said member, other and. extending in opposite directions, a.wheel on the free end of each arm,

a pair of arms journaled on the shaft independently of one another andextending in opposite directions, a wheel on the free end of each arm, alinkage connecting intermediate portions of the arms, a bracket on thesupported member, and a spring confined between the linkage and thebracket.

5, In a suspension for vehicles, a member to be supported, a pair ofarms mounted on said member independently of one another, a wheel oneach arm, a linkage connecting intermediate portions of the arms and ayielding connection between he linkage and the member to be supported.

. HARRY A. KNOX.

THOMAS H. NIXON.

